Musical Moments part 1

I have a musical mind, and a musical mood makes me a better writer. (Sorry, that was a lot of alliteration...) Songs inspire scenes, and then I can string those together and have all kinds of fun! So here's a behind the scenes look at the songs that made the big moments happen!

An Arrangement of Sorts

We've Got Tonight by Bob Seger -- This song is the song that started it all! "I know it's late, I know you're weary, I know your plans don't include me..." I mean, come on, guys... That's too perfect! That night when Nathan asks Moira to stay? This song was playing.

Say Goodbye by Katherine McPhee -- This song was a lucky find, and it just breaks my heart. "But I just keep it all inside, That way it won't hurt so much when we say goodbye." UGH. This is after they visit the Cutler family and that scene with the horses... So sad.

Married to the Marquess

Come Away With Me by Norah Jones -- This song... Oh, this song! "Come away with me in the night... Come away with me and I'll write you a song..." Swoon away, swoon away. This song goes with the running to the gazebo and all that happens at the gazebo. Too perfect. It's the theme for Derek and Kate, in my mind.

Signal Fire by Snow Patrol -- This is another one I found by accident, and when I listen to it, I imagine Derek running from the club to his home to tell Kate how he feels, and the disaster that follows... A little ironic, I'll give you that, but it works.

Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Webber -- Okay, so the song is by the incomparable ALW, but I used 3 different versions in my playlist for this book for different things. It became a theme for Kate. The first was by Jenny Oaks Baker, an incredible artist, and is when Gemma and Kate are playing. The second was by Jackie Evancho, who blows my mind, and that's when Mary is singing it. Lastly is the moving version by Julian Lloyd Webber (yes, he's related) and is a breathtaking rendition on the cello. That's a reflective and painful one when Derek and Kate aren't doing so well... Such a good song.

Secrets of a Spinster

Always On My Mind by Michael Bublé -- "Maybe I didn't love you quite as good as I should have..." Uh, yeah. This is a good song for these two. Mary was always on Geoff's mind. Apply this one liberally in the book as you see fit.

Then You Look At Me by Celine Dion -- I have adored this song for YEARS. Imagine my joy when the scene that sprang to life in this song was applicable for this fantastic couple! "Then you look at me, and I always see what I have been searching for..." This song is THAT ballroom scene. And if you ever meet me in person, and we have the time, I will put this song on and spell out the entire scene in time with the music. Not kidding. So good.

All This Time by OneRepublic -- Theme song for Geoff and Mary. Goes on the youtube montage someone will make when they do the adapted version for TV or in film. (No, that is not an announcement, just a wish!) "All this time we were waiting for each other, all this time I was waiting for you. We got all these words, can't waste them on another so I'm straight in a straight line running back to you..." And we all die glorious swooning deaths!

The Dangers of Doing Good

Falling by Keri Noble -- I can't even tell you how I found this song, but it is so gorgeous! It perfectly sums up Annie's sweet and uncertain feelings for Duncan, and her insecurity about the whole thing. Such a tender love song!

Superman Tonight by Bon Jovi -- A Bon Jovi song for a Regency romance? You bet! This song is SO Duncan! He is all about saving Annie and doing the right thing and being noble... He's so great! I love this song for him. "There's something about you I wanna rescue. I don't even know you, so what does that mean?" Seriously. Does it get any more perfect than that?

The Burdens of a Bachelor

Go First by Rose Cousins -- I cried when I found this song, and when I was writing Susannah, I knew this fit her to a tee. SO GOOD.

Remember When It Rained by Josh Groban -- GAZEBO SCENE. Nuff said.

Possibility by Lykke Li -- When I was writing the agonizing scene of Susannah realizing that she had completely lost her chance, that all hope was gone, this was the song that I played on repeat. Single most depressing song ever, and it was the only thing that could get the feelings of the scene nailed down for me.

A Bride Worth Taking

Let It Be Me by Joshua Payne -- This song is quintessentially Kit. I fell in love with it when I heard it, and thought it summed up Kit's deepest desires and fit in perfectly with his struggles over Marianne.

Don't You Remember by Adele -- When Marianne finds herself falling for Kit but he has gone back to his distant self, this song comes into play. She wanted Kit to love her again, to remember how he once felt, and this song portrays that so well. Breaks my heart!

Fix You by Coldplay -- THIS SONG. This is the theme for Kit and Marianne. It is EVERYWHERE in the soundtrack. A full orchestral version is in the scene when he rides out in the rain after her, a piano version is in the falling in love process, a haunting cello version is in the heartbreak but hopeful moments, and the grand finale (credits song!) is the original. SO GOOD.

A Wager Worth Making

Say Something by A Great Big World -- This is the theme for Lucas and Gemma. It is painful and lovely and soooooo appropriate for them! A violin version is used for Gemma's incredible violin scene (UGH!) and an all piano version was used for some of their cute earlier moments.

Anonymous soundtrack by Thomas Wander and Harald Kloser -- The music for this movie is UH-MAAAAZ-ING and I adore it. It is rather strings heavy, which is perfect for Gemma, and often quite brooding, which is absolutely Lucas. Sheer perfection.

The Light by The Album Leaf --  Umm... This is the song for THAT scene. It's got this intensity to it that is fairly subtle, but once you catch it... My gosh, you're on fire. So... yeah, it's the Blackmoors, isn't it?

A Gerrard Family Christmas

Honestly, you can use whatever crazy Christmas songs you want for this one. I had a running Christmas playlist the entire time without anything specific, but if you want me to pair it up, I can do that!

The Lady and the Gent

Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova -- Here we have the theme for Rafe and Margaret. The lyrics completely tell their story, and it's just so adorable. I have SO many versions of this song in here. A violin one, a piano one, a full strings one... It's everywhere!

Laverton Fair (from the Becoming Jane Soundtrack) by Adrian Johnson -- This is the song as they are entering the Roma camp. It is fun and lighthearted and has that mysterious edge to it that intrigues people.

Caravan (from the Chocolat soundtrack) by Rachel Portman -- This... this is the song they dance to at the gypsy camp. I mean, come on... (Fun fact: I used the Chocolate soundtrack a lot in this book!)

The Merry Lives of Spinsters

Another Country (from the New In Town soundtrack) by Tiff Merritt -- I don't quite know why, but this song was so Georgie for me. It became the "credits song" for me quite early on in this process. It's a very sweet song, and I adore it.

To Show You My Love by Mike Schmid -- This is Tony's love song. I mean his song for Georgie. I mean if this were a Broadway musical, this would be his big number. Because Tony is a sweetie and a rock star, right? Right.

Hold Onto Hope Love by Amy Stroup -- UGH. This song... This is their courtship song. This is the song that tells the story in a way that nothing else can. It's adorable and touching and romantic and... Sigh. It might be my song too.

Love Out Of Focus

Dancing On the Ceiling by Lionel Richie (feat. Rascal Flatts) -- Well, this is the version of the song I imagine the Hudson cousins singing together. It's crazy fun and I just adore it.

It Never Entered My Mind by Miles Davis -- I dare you to listen to this song while picturing Hunter and Mal dancing slowly and sensually together and see if you don't come apart at the seams. Go on. I'll wait.

You're the First, the Last, My Everything by Barry White -- This is the song the cabbie in Chicago listens to as he drives away with the two of them in the back. Enjoy. *insert knowing snicker*

A Rogue About Town

Secrets by OneRepublic -- This song, to me, was everything about this story. It's Gabe, it's Amelia, it's their relationship, their pasts... This is their theme. In my playlist, I use several versions of this song, including an INCREDIBLE strings version for THAT waltz scene... So good!

Falling by Keri Noble -- I don't even remember how I found this song, but I find it incredibly heartbreaking, which meant that I had to use it. It's absolutely Amelia's song as she finds herself falling for Gabe... You need this song in your life.

All That You Are by The Goo Goo Dolls -- If I could find a hundred versions of this song and make it the entire soundtrack for this book, I would have. This song is Gabe in its sound, in its feeling, in its words... Absolutely Gabe in every aspect. Totally the over the credits song, and everything I wanted Gabe to be.

The Spinster and I

I'll Keep you Safe by Sleeping At Last --  This song is absolutely beautiful. Stunning in its melody and tone, stirring in its message. It is the perfect song for Prue and Cam starting to feel things for each other that they can't really explain. It's not love, but it's more than friendship... It's so tender, and I adore it.

All The Things You Are by Laura Osnes -- This is Prue. This is absolutely Prue and her feelings for Cam. Her longings for love and finding ways to describe what she feels. And with Cam, she finds the adventure she never thought she was brave enough to go on. So sweet!

We All Need Saving by Jon McLaughlin -- There is no more perfect song for any book or characters I have ever written in my life. This song so perfectly encapsulates Prue and Cam and their entire journey. It is their theme, it is their credits song, and it is the song that I will forever and always think of as theirs. Still makes me cry.

A Tip of the Cap

A Thousand Years by Christina Perri -- This is the theme for Cap and Beth. I have several versions of it, instrumental and with lyrics, throughout their soundtrack. I love the thread of lasting love in the song, the steady and enduring notes, and the deep feeling behind it. If Cap and Beth are anything, they are deep in feeling.

And So It Goes by Billy Joel -- I chose this song for Cap as he is taking care of Beth and finding himself falling more and more in love with her. How proud and private he is, how hard he tries to deny what he feels, but how much he knows he cares for her and about her. Finally giving in, at least in his heart, and letting himself truly be with her. UGH. So good.

The Dance (from the soundtrack to War & Peace) by Martin Phipps -- Ohhhh this song. Seriously, this song is amazing for the specific scene. Okay, this is for the scene where Cap and Beth are at the Harris ball up in their secret and private room and they are dancing to the music below. The song starts up all about the dance, and so does the dance with Cap and Beth. But as the song, and the dance, go on, everything about dancing fades into something much more emotional, and much more powerful. And it is sooooo glorious.

Hitching the Pitcher

Hold Onto Hope Love by Amy Stroup -- I love this song for Erica. I adore what it stands for and what Erica does in the book. Her enduring feelings and patience with Sawyer, and realizing the truth of their feelings for each other. And holding onto that hope.

Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band -- And this would be the song for our boy Sawyer when Erica comes back into his life. He doesn't understand what it is that Erica has that means so much to him, or makes him want her so much, he only knows she has it. Fun and quirky, but so true.

Setting the World on Fire by Kenny Chesney (with P!nk) -- This song is so Sawyer and Erica it isn't even funny. It's fun and it's catchy and it just hooks into you. In my mind, it describes their previous relationship to a tee, and it's the memory of that awesome relationship that brings them back to where they are. I just love that!